Routine matter turns into lengthy debate
A plan to fluoridate the city’s water was scheduled to be passed as a matter of routine here Tuesday but it ended up becoming the focus of an hour-long debate before the City Council.
More than a dozen people spoke to the council about the controversial decision to put fluoride in Santa Monica’s drinking water, an action approved by politicians in October of 2001.
The issue came up because of a $300,000 contract for the design of a city fluoridation system. Council members approved the contract and officials plan to begin delivering fluoridated water to residents by the end of the year.
Most of the speakers at Tuesday’s meeting criticized the council for putting fluoride, which many believe can cause negative health effects, into the drinking water. They said that even if one agrees with the purported benefits of fluoride, it should still be left to residents to decide if they want it in their water.
3AE,“Santa Monica is supposed to be progressive, not regressive. And I think this is a regressive move,” resident Reina Alvarez said.
“Santa Monica is supposed to be progressive, not regressive. And I think this is a regressive move.” — — REINA ALVAREZ Santa Monica worker
A handful of others at the meeting urged the council to approve the $300,000 contract, saying fluoride has been proven to help growing children develop stronger teeth. City Councilman Bob Holbrook, who voted for the contract, said fluoridated water is considered one of the top 10 medical achievements of the 20th Century.
“There is a core group of people who are concerned about water fluoridation and there are some council members who are as well,” Holbrook said. “I don’t think their fears are grounded in science and that’s why I voted to approve it.”
When the debate was in full swing three years ago, the council split 4-3 in favor of fluoridation. City Councilman Mike Feinstein said Tuesday he feels so strongly against fluoridation that he will buy bottled water to use once the fluoridation kicks in.
Others, like City Councilman Ken Genser, said he believes in the benefits of fluoride but doesn’t think it should be forced on residents. Genser proposed a motion that City Hall staffers review the proposed fluoride levels. That motion failed.
“I recognized that this was going forward and I wasn’t trying to stop it,” Genser later said. “However, we had a member of the Environmental Task Force (a City Hall commission)... who said he’d like to look at what the optimum levels are.”
With the contract approved, plans are underway. Utilities manager Gil Borboa said construction of a fluoride treatment system likely will begin in June and Santa Monica’s drinking water will be fluoridated by year’s end. Currently, the drinking water contains.2 to.4 parts per million of fluoride. But according to government health officials, the dental hygiene benefits are optimal at.8 parts per million.
1CC,“There are a lot of people that are very passionate on both sides of the issue,” Borboa said, adding, “The dosage rate of the fluoride, as planned to be applied, is consistent with the Center of Disease Control guidelines, which are consistent with the State Health Department.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 15, 2004. Read the original PDF.